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Project Updates for collection: 2015 iCAP Objectives
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FY20 faculty/staff air travel data
Associated Project(s):The dollars spent from TEM for faculty/staff air travel from FY20 is attached.
Attached Files:Certified Greener Campus Programs Workshop
Associated Project(s):iSEE hosted our first “Certified Greener Campus Program Workshop” to guide U of I organizations in certifying as “green,” even while unusual conditions add complexity to campus’s daily operations. The online workshop included a program overview, steps to certification, FAQs, and an open discussion about overcoming common barriers to sustainability.
If you were unable to attend Thursday’s workshop, you can still take steps to advocate for sustainable practices in your unit! I invite you to:
- View and download the PowerPoint slides presented during the workshop.
- Watch the workshop recording on YouTube.
- Visit the Greener Campus Portal for more information about Certified Green Events, Offices, RSOs, and Greek chapters.
- Contact a Greener Campus team member at iseegreenoffice@gmail.com.
New Years Resolution Guide
Associated Project(s):Check out the 2021 iSEE New Years Resolution Sustainability Guide, full of actions to consider and resources to help! Stay mindful of the environment when setting goals in 2021.
2021 Levenick iSEE Teaching Sustainability Fellowship- APPLY BY JAN 31
Associated Project(s):iSEE is offering funding to integrate elements of sustainability into an existing course ($1,000 award) or develop a new course with a sustainability focus ($2,000 award) through the 2021 Levenick iSEE Teaching Sustainability Fellowship. Applications are due January 31.
Funding for Course Development
Associated Project(s):Deadline Jan. 31 to Get Funding for Sustainability Course Development!
Faculty and instructors have until month's end to apply for iSEE's 2021 Course Development Cohort program, increasing sustainability course offerings across campus. The 2021 Levenick Teaching Sustainability Fellows will integrate sustainability components into an existing course ($1,000) or develop a new course with a sustainability focus ($2,000). 100- and 200-level courses especially encouraged.
Tony Mancuso • Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE)
Energy iCAP Team Meeting Minutes from 1-21-21
Associated Project(s):The Energy iCAP Team had their first meeting of the Spring semester on January 21st, 2021. The meeting focused on obtaining supporting materials for a recommendation to start the Comprehensive Energy Plan, which will serve as an university-wide guide on energy conservation. A recommendation to model buildings for energy code compliance will likely be ready next month. Future discussions are planned with F&S representatives. A subcommittee of Energy team members will brainstorm concrete actions on energy efficiency in labs and residence halls. The agenda and meeting minutes are attached.
Attached Files:New Associate Director for Research
Associated Project(s):Jeremy Guest has been named iSEE's Acting Associate Director for Research. Guest will guide the development of new iSEE research initiatives and support existing programs within the institute's research portfolio.
Bike Month planning meeting
Associated Project(s):The Bike Month planning team met today, with representatives from several areas across Champaign County.
1) CU Safe Routes to School - planned for May 5 - Urban Planning student is an intern for CU-SRTS. They are also working on a safe routes to parks program.
2) Champaign County Bikes - Charlie Smyth is the chair of CCB this year. They will have a new website in a few days. They still need one more board member for this year. They talked with Amelia Neptune at the League of American Bicyclists (LAB), and Charlie shared several points about the national outlook.
3) This group will plan virtual events for the spring, and meet again in February.
Green Infrastructure Solutions to Campus Flooding in Urbana, IL
Associated Project(s):Please see the attached report that details a design report for the Vet Med Stormwater system.
Attached Files:Updated list of needed student projects
Associated Project(s):This is a list of projects that need students to work on. It will be updated periodically by sustainability staff members, the last update was 1/2/21:
- Tree Canopy Analysis: Work with F&S staff to complete a GIS analysis of the university's tree canopy, in support of the Tree Campus USA designation. This will include comparison to peer institutions and a presentation of the results and methodology to the Tree Campus Advisory Committee. Depending on time availability, it can also include an analysis of the local tree canopy, off campus. Contact Morgan White at mbwhite at illinois.edu.
- CCNet Website: Work with the Champaign County Sustainability Network (CCNet) leadership team to redesign and publish the CCNet website (old version is online at http://www.champaigncountynet.org/). There is a monthly brown bag sustainability networking event on the Third Thursday of each month, but the website hasn't been updated since 2016. Contact Morgan White at mbwhite at illinois.edu.
- If you have a project idea, please contact us at sustainability@illinois.edu, or submit it through the iCAP Portal Suggestions page.
12/18 Zero Waste SWATeam Meeting
Associated Project(s):Attached are the meeting minutes from the Zero Waste SWATeam on 12/18/2020. The following agenda items were discussed:
- Grind2Energy Additional Scope.
- NERC membership.
- Mask Terracycle Program.
- Organics Master Plan.
- Vending Machine Single-Use Plastics Replacement.
- Mitigating single-serve options in third-party vendors in Union.
- Reusable dining operations during COVID.
- Reuse of Surplus Goods.
- Battery Recycling Options.
- Purchasing Order Fufillment: Sustainable Options.
- Purchasing Sustainability Digital Booklet.
- Food Waste Reduction Webinar Engagement Opportunity.
- Sustainability Integrations within punch-out catalogues/iBUY.
Attached Files:12/16 Transportation SWATeam Meeting
Associated Project(s):Attached are the meeting minutes for the Transportation SWATeam Meeting on 12/16/2020. The following agenda items were discussed:
- Intern Solicitation
- Intern Resources List
- EV Task Force
- Fleet Vehicle Usage Tracking
- Reduction of Fleet
- Air Travel Emissions
Attached Files:Precious Plastic Campus Recycling Hub
Associated Project(s):The SSC approved $12,000 in funding for a precious plastic campus recycling hub in Fall 2020. This project expires 12/16/2022.
Attached Files:Funding Letter - Precious Plastic Campus Recycling Hub.pdf
App - Precious Plastic Campus Recycling Hub.docx
Step_2_Additional_Information fab lab.docx
Step-2-Application-18 Fab Lab.docx
Step-2-Supplemental-Budget-and-Timeline_2020 Fab Lab Corrected (1) copy.xlsx
Step-2-Supplemental-Budget-and-Timeline_2020 Fab Lab.xlsx
Sol Systems Blog about SEE Fellows student project
Associated Project(s):Sol Systems published a blog today sharing information about the collaborations with the UIUC Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Fellows program, the campus-wide minor in sustainability.
"This past week, two groups of students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign presented to Sol Systems regarding their findings through the university’s sustainability minor capstone course. The students conducted an emissions audit for supply chain and land-usage for the university’s second utility-scale solar project, Solar Farm 2.0, a 54-acre, 12.3 MW dc system on the Urbana campus that is being developed by Sol Systems. The presentation and partnership served as part of Sol’s sustainability initiatives and acts as the foundation for building Sol’s framework for future and current solar project developments...."
Read the full post online at https://www.solsystems.com/groundwork-for-solar-sustainability/.
Daily Illini article about impacts of covid-19 on iCAP
Associated Project(s):The Daily Illini published an article about the impacts of covid-19 on the campus sustainability efforts. One key message is that, even with some delays associated with the pandemic, we are still determined to move forward. The conclusion of the article says:
Mohamed Attalla, executive director of Facilities and Services, said there are lots of initiatives to reach carbon neutrality in terms of energy and hopes to reach 400,000 metric tons of CO2 this year.
Attalla said the addition of a third solar farm, advances in geothermal energy and research in carbon capture contribute to achieving carbon neutrality and that long-term, COVID-19 should not be a problem.
“Maybe we’re behind a little in implementing some projects, but we’ll be able to catch up,” he said. “I don’t think there will be a long-term impact on the iCAP implementation.”
White also said she doesn’t anticipate any long-term problems with achieving the iCAP goals and believes it’s important for the University to lead by example when it comes to sustainability.
“I really believe that accomplishing the iCAP goals is something we can do, we need to do and we will do,” she said.
“Climate change isn’t waiting for us,” Edwards said. “(The University is) the laboratory for science, for humanities, for arts … all those kinds of things show what is possible of humanity.”
“If we’re going to call ourselves leaders, then we need to lead,” he said.
https://dailyillini.com/covid-10/2020/12/08/covid-19-pandemic-impacts-un...
Levenick iSEE Teaching Sustainability Fellowship - open for applications
Associated Project(s):iSEE is launching its third annual application period for the Levenick iSEE Teaching Sustainability Fellowship. This program provides support for Illinois instructors to integrate sustainability components into an existing course or develop a new course with a sustainability focus.
Requirements for biodiesel certification
Associated Project(s):BK Sharma at ISTC identified these specifications for IBI to meet.
1) B6751 for B100
2) B7467 for B6 to B20
Levenick Fellows Behavior Change project
Associated Project(s):In Fall 2017, University of Illinois Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) Erica Myers and ACE Ph.D. Candidate Mateus Souza conducted a study to gauge whether detailed energy reports would influence student energy-saving behaviors. The project received funding through the Levenick iSEE Fellows Program, and ultimately determined that although similar experiments had proven effective in standard residential settings, the impact was negligible in residence halls where students do not directly pay for energy. On the other hand, simple nudges sent prior to winter break were effective in promoting the reduction of thermostat setpoints and energy consumption. Results from the study were later published at the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management.
Solar Farm construction update for November 2020
Associated Project(s):F&S Management Engineer, Sushanth Girini, provided an update on the Solar Farm 2.0 construction progress. One key point is that 65% of the panel installation is complete as of 11/23.
Points regarding the progress:
- Currently the project is working on installing all the panels on the posts. As of Nov. 23, 2020, Sol Systems completed 258 out of 399 rows of panels, so approximately 65% of panel installation is complete.
- The pads have been poured and all major equipment placed (inverters and transformers), currently working on wiring the whole network. The mechanical in service (construction complete without inspection & commissioning) date is Dec 16th 2020 as per current schedule.
- Received all panels on site, racking equipment and all major equipment such as inverters and transformers, awaiting the switchgear delivery, which is due on 11/30.
- Working with U of I's F&S Waste Management team to achieve a zero waste goal for this project by recycling all the boxes and other materials.
- Every employee who works on site is checked for temperatures before entering the site as a safety precaution against covid-19.
Thank you,
Sushanth Girini